A Bad Run of Luck for the Badgley's

I was recently contacted by someone looking for more information on the Daniel Badgley family of Syracuse, New York. I think I have figured out how they fit in my tree but I will save that for another time. Here are three articles I found at Old Fulton Post Cards that tell of hard times for the family.

Mother's Foot and Hands Scalded in Effort to Help Youngester - Boy Has Chance to Recover

Leonard Leroy Badgley, 2 1/2 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Badgley, was seriously burned at the family home, No. 1_08 Orange street, at 5:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon when his brother Floyd, 7 tipped over a kettle of broth which was on the kitchen stove, at the side of which the children were playing.

The child was taken to the Hospital of the Good Shepherd, where it was said late last night that his condition was critical. There is a possibility of recovery, however, it was reported.

Mrs. Badgley, mother of the family of eight children, was standing less than five feet from the stove talking with a woman when the accident happened.

Floyd left his Christmas toys on the floor and arose to go to his mother. As he arose from the floor his shoulder struck the handle of the kettle, which projected over the edge of the stove. The blow tipped the kettle forward and the boiling contents flowed over the edge of the stove.

Leonard, clothed in his light rompers, was playing with blocks when the hot liquid struck him in the back of the neck and down his back. He turned quickly and the steaming liquid fell onto his breast.

His mother turned at the first cry and in her hurry to help the child she stepped into the greasy fluid and slipped. Her foot was scalded and in falling she extended both hands, which landed in the soup and were slighty burned.

Mrs. Badgley was on her feet in an instant and tore the clothes from the boy's back. The other woman hurried from the house and called the ambulance from the Hospital of the Good Shepard.

Because she feared Christmas will be without cheer for Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Badgley of No. 1_14 Park street, and their six children, a friend of the family has written the Post-Standard asking that something be done to aid them.

The plight of the family is said to be unfortunate. Mr. Badgley is unable to earn a salary suffient to provide the barest necessities of life. The children frequently are kept from school because they have not shoes or enough clothing to wear.

During the last few cold nights there has not been suffient bedding in the house to keep al warm and often times the children have been compelled to get up in the night to exercise to keep warm.

The children are expecting Santa Claus to stop at their home as he does at the homes of their playmates and the parents have not the heart to tell them otherwise. Neighbors have aided the family several times.

The children are a girl, 14 years old, five boys, aged 12, 9, 7, 2, and a baby boy.

*************************

Syracuse Journal. Monday, September 25, 1916; Page Two

Suies for Injuries and Cost of Doctor; Son Run Down

Joseph Badgley, 7, who was run down by an automoblie owned by Cahill Bros. Bread and Biscuit Co., Inc., while watching the Sam and Tech Club members bound for their outing on July 26, has now brought suit against the Cahills for $1,000 damages for his injuries. The suit is brought by Daniel Badgley, his father, who asks $25 for the money he spent on his young son's physians bills. The Badgley boy was run over by a delivery wagon and had two teeth knocked out. Attorney Wilbur Van Duyn appears for both the father and son in the two suits.

From what I've learned, little Leonard recovered and had a family of his own.

I was struck by the second article. In these times when we have so many social programs it's hard to imagine a family without heat or sufficient clothing. And if I have figured out how they fit into the family tree, then they did have cousins in town who were quite well off. Had they asked them for help or after a couple of generations were they even aware that they were related?

It's so exciting to find stories about our ancestors in newspapers, but when the news reports are ones of accidents like these, it can be hard to read them and realize what the situation was really like for them. Such sad news